American Express rewards can be siphoned across to AAdvantage via Starwood Preferred Guest . If earning 1.5 points per $ , the ending result is only 20% worse than offered in the US for cards that are directly linked to AA

So its simply a case of transferring the AMEX points over to SPG and then (once the minimum transfer threshold is reached) putting them into AA? Seems easy enough. It certainly seems a more valuable program that QFF.

American Express rewards can be siphoned across to AAdvantage via Starwood Preferred Guest . If earning 1.5 points per $ , the ending result is only 20% worse than offered in the US for cards that are directly linked to AA

Dave

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So here's a twist to the question. I currently have an Amex SPG which in effect earns 1.25 AA miles per US$ spent. That means 1 AA miles per AAUD$ spent (on approx current exchange rate of 0.8US$=1A$). We are moving to Australia within a year. I am going to keep my Amex SPG for US shopping as a US credit card. Should I seriously consider using it in Australia, as even with the 2% foreign txn fee and exchange rate fluctuations I am getting a better AA miles (and SPG points) return for my $ spent? let's assume the reward miles are the main considerations and I don't mind the hassle of forex and paying a US credit card from Aus.

So its simply a case of transferring the AMEX points over to SPG and then (once the minimum transfer threshold is reached) putting them into AA? Seems easy enough. It certainly seems a more valuable program that QFF.

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Indeed

SPG -> AA transfer at a ratio of 1:1

If you can get 20,000 SPG points transferred over in one go to AA, then you will get a bonus 5000 miles , giving 25,000 AA points

So here's a twist to the question. I currently have an Amex SPG which in effect earns 1.25 AA miles per US$ spent. That means 1 AA miles per AAUD$ spent (on approx current exchange rate of 0.8US$=1A$). We are moving to Australia within a year. I am going to keep my Amex SPG for US shopping as a US credit card. Should I seriously consider using it in Australia, as even with the 2% foreign txn fee and exchange rate fluctuations I am getting a better AA miles (and SPG points) return for my $ spent? let's assume the reward miles are the main considerations and I don't mind the hassle of forex and paying a US credit card from Aus.

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It's a question only you can really answer.

Over a $1000 , you would get 1000 miles vs 619 using AU AMEX ( based on getting 1.5 pts per AUD and transferring in 20k amounts) , so you would get an extra 381 miles, though you will pay $20 in currency fees. Is 381 miles worth $20 to you?

Over a $1000 , you would get 1000 miles vs 619 using AU AMEX ( based on getting 1.5 pts per AUD and transferring in 20k amounts) , so you would get an extra 381 miles, though you will pay $20 in currency fees. Is 381 miles worth $20 to you?

Dave

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Clearly not - good point - I was using the entire price/number of miles as the denominator for the 2% fee rather than the differential in $/miles.

Moderator

Its not as bad as it used to be. Our corp card has been Diners for several years now, and for business-related spend such as travel it is generally well accepted. No utilities etc, but similar problem there with Amex.

I have found a few example of places that will accept Amex and not Diners Club, but they are few, and one of them was a major chain hotel (Novotel in Hong Kong).

But as always, it depends on where you spend your money.

Our USA colleagues have a joint-branded Diners Club / Mastercard. So places that don't accept Diners, or would prefer to process a bill as Mastercard can do so. I am not sure what happens then with rewards points. But its is administered through Diners Club in the USA. Our Aussie cards do not have that feature (yet).

Well I use Diners as my credit card of choice and have no difficulty spending money on it.Woolworths ,Coles,most petrol outlets,major stores,all my travel and most accommodation.I use it just so I can transfer the points to AA.
Certainly a lot of restaurants,smaller stores and in country areas it can be hard to use.Then there is the problem of surcharges.However mostly I pay no more with DC than Amex.
The major benefit is that all those points I am transferring count to the million miles and lifetime gold.

I am going to keep my Amex SPG for US shopping as a US credit card. Should I seriously consider using it in Australia....

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One other advantage of having a US based credit card would be ease of booking AA flights online when the need arises.

BTW AMEX Australia have just upped their fee for foreign transactions to 2.5% (on the already not too generous exchange rate they use). It's starting to get a little pricey when O/S if you spend a bit. I just wish there was an easy way to get a US based CC for use on trips & purchases there, plus the benefit of the efficient AA points transfer advantage.

Moderator

BTW AMEX Australia have just upped their fee for foreign transactions to 2.5% (on the already not too generous exchange rate they use). It's starting to get a little pricey when O/S if you spend a bit. I just wish there was an easy way to get a US based CC for use on trips & purchases there, plus the benefit of the efficient AA points transfer advantage.

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It really irks me that the banks and CC providers keep increasing the foreign exchange fees/commissions etc. I would have expected that their costs for such exchanges are actually dropping with the improvement in systems and technology. It seems to me that this is an easy grab for more revenue as more and more people are using their credit cards for overseas purchases.

I think its a rort, 2.5% is a lot of money ! and the rates to start with are never as good as they should be.
And they still make there couple of % from the retailer/hotel/airline etc

Atleast AMEX is more accepted now, but i still have had issues with VISA & AMEX in Japan for example where one JR station seems to be able to process one but not the other and the next JR station turn out is the reverse. I think its actually staff not keying something correctly but can't really tell.

Moderator

I think its a rort, 2.5% is a lot of money ! and the rates to start with are never as good as they should be.

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I have found their base rate to be very close to the rate quoted by xe.com for the date the transaction was processed. So I have no complaint with the base rate used. But the increase to 2.5% for their foreign exchange fee is what I find unjustified at a time when their costs should be decreasing not increasing. I think it is just a cash grab as more people are using their cards for overseas transactions.

Moderator

I have found their base rate to be very close to the rate quoted by xe.com for the date the transaction was processed. So I have no complaint with the base rate used. But the increase to 2.5% for their foreign exchange fee is what I find unjustified at a time when their costs should be decreasing not increasing. I think it is just a cash grab as more people are using their cards for overseas transactions.

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Agreed :!:

I'm about to have a transaction (corporate card) where the foreign exchange fee is $US250 and the same for my travelling partner. Overall probably about $US450 each on exchange fees alone.

I think its a rort, 2.5% is a lot of money ! and the rates to start with are never as good as they should be.
And they still make there couple of % from the retailer/hotel/airline etc

Atleast AMEX is more accepted now, but i still have had issues with VISA & AMEX in Japan for example where one JR station seems to be able to process one but not the other and the next JR station turn out is the reverse. I think its actually staff not keying something correctly but can't really tell.

Evan

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Yes..justa cash grab....

AND it is not just about fleecing travellers but on any overseas transaction you may make.

ie

1/ buying something on ebay from a country other where you reside...or from any overseas website....or magazine advertisement etc

Has anyone here looked into the viability of having a US based account or CC for transactions there? If not now, surely this will become possible in the future you would think.... I remember looking into it some years ago and the charges and complexity nullified any benefits at that time.

Has anyone here looked into the viability of having a US based account or CC for transactions there? If not now, surely this will become possible in the future you would think.... I remember looking into it some years ago and the charges and complexity nullified any benefits at that time.

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I regularly look into this.Unfortunately US banks are paranoid about us foreigners and it is nearly impossible to get a US based credit card.Even though a long term customer with citibank there is no way.You need a credit history in the US.
I do have a son living in the US and can use his card number on those sites that will only accept US cards but then he gets the points.So you still lose.

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